It’s not simple for a mother to watch their child in discomfort. But, pain and discomfort are what babies experience when they have constipation. The initial six months of nursing your baby could be the cause of constipation. And, once your baby begins eating solid foods, it is important to be on the lookout for symptoms of constipation. Although lifestyle modification is recommended for baby constipation relief sometimes, they do not perform well. In the short term, the use of a laxative could help to restore normal bowel habits.
It’s always a good idea to consult your pharmacist or doctor about the best way to handle your child’s constipation. They will give you the best advice about what kind of laxative is appropriate for your kid. It is important to talk with your physician whether your child continues to be constipated or is making changes to your diet. If your child is constipated, make sure to consult with your doctor.
The Signs of Constipation in Infants
Infrequent Bowel Movement
The number of bowel movements your child experiences each day can vary, particularly as you introduce children to new food. If your child is going longer than a few days without a stool or an uneasy stool, they could have constipation.
Training
If your infant is strained when they are bowling, it could be an indication of constipation. Children who are constipated often have a hard and clay-like stool.
The hard stool can be difficult to pass, which is why they may strain or push more than usual to pass the waste. They can also be anxious and cry during a bowel movement.
Blood in Stool
If you see bleeding red streaks in your child’s stool, your likely child pushing hard for a bowel movement. The strain and pushing of an uneasy stool can cause tiny tears to the anal wall that can cause bleeding in your stool.
Firm Belly
A tummy that is sagging could indicate constipation. The pressure and swelling due to constipation can cause your child’s stomach to appear full and stiff.
Refusing to Eat Food
The baby could be able to feel fuller fast if they’re constipated. They might also be unable to eat due to increasing discomfort.
Strategies to ease baby’s constipation
Increase Consumption of Water
If your baby is breastfeeding and bottle-fed, it’s not difficult to conclude that she’s drinking sufficient water because her diet is mostly liquid. If your child has constipation symptoms, Try giving an additional 2 to 4 inches of water following every feeding to ensure that your bowels flush effectively.
Change The Milk
When your infant is breastfeeding, and you want to change your diet. The baby might be sensitive to food items you’re eating, which could cause constipation, although this is not common.
Bottle-fed infants may require a different kind of formula at the very least until constipation is gone. Certain ingredients could cause constipation.
Start Fruit Juices
Giving fruit juices to your infant is one option to boost fluid intake and help with regular elimination. If your baby is more than 2 months, begin with 2 to 4 pounds of any juice from the fruit–grape or apple, pear, and apple, as well as cherry or prune, twice a day. However, you should choose 100 % fruit juice. Juices can draw water into the bowel. If your child’s stools turn fluid, decrease the amount of juice.
Massage
Massaging the baby’s abdomen may aid in relieving constipation. To do this, you have to tap your fingers or rub them in circular motions over the abdomen of your baby. This simulates stool movements and can help to eliminate stool from the anus of your baby quicker. Baby oil can assist in easing the massage process.
Feed Them High-Fiber Foods
It is possible that you have introduced solid foods to your baby as of currently introducing carrots, bananas, rice and rice cereals, and even cheese. But, these food items are likely to cause constipation in a short time because they lack fiber. This is why you should give them Apricots, prunes, pears, apricots, plums, peaches, and peaches, as they are all high in fiber.
Encourage Them to Move.
Moving more frequently may help them get around more smoothly. One way to accomplish this is to give them what we call bicycle legs, which means that you push your baby’s legs in the same way as if they are riding on a bicycle. Putting your child on his or his back with their backs to you and then doing circular movements as if they were riding a bicycle will alleviate abdominal pressure and allow them to move in the proper direction.
Give Them a Warm Bath
A warm bath can aid in nearly anything, particularly those who aren’t able to pee. This is because the warm water can relax their body and help them let go of the poop they’re carrying. As you begin drying the area, you can also use the tummy massage technique to help.
Final Words
Since babies are tiny, they can easily become dehydrated. It is not recommended to utilize minerals, mineral oils, enemas, or stimulant-based laxatives on your infant. If none of these methods help constipation in your child, a doctor’s appointment is necessary to eliminate any other possible dangerous underlying issues.